OBJECTIVETo study the changes of insulin sensitivity in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes and the relationship between insulin sensitivity and over weight/obesity (OW/OB) .

METHODSFifty-two individuals were divided into 4 groups according to WHO diagnostic criteria of obesity (1998) and diabetes (1999): normal weight with normal glucose tolerance (NW-NGT) group, OW/OB with normal glucose tolerance (OW/OB-NGT) group, OW/OB with impaired glucose tolerance (OW/OBIGT) group and OW/OB with diabetes mellitus (OW/OB-DM) group. Individuals in OW/OB-NGT group were further classified into 3 subgroups: over weight subgroup, mild obesity subgroup, and mediate obesity subgroup. Abdominal fat area was measured with magnetic resonance imaging. Visceral obesity was defined as intra-abdominal fat area over 100 cm(2). All subjects with NGT were divided into visceral obesity (VA) group and non-visceral obesity ( Non-VA) group. Extended hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was performed to assess the peripheral tissue insulin sensitivity in all subjects.

RESULTSThe rates of insulin mediated glucose disappearance (Rd) were (3. 25+/-0. 13) mg x kg (-1) min (-1) in OW/OB-NGT group, (3. 06+/-0. 26) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) in OW/OB-IGT group, and (3.19+/-0.44) mg x kg(-1) x min (-1) in OW/OB-DM group, which were significantly lower than that in NW-NGT group [ (5. 86+/-0. 65) mg x kg (-1) min (-1) ] (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). The Rd in over weight subgroup [(3.50+/-0. 19) mg kg(-1) x min(-1) ] , mild obesity subgroup [(3. 03+/-0. 13) mg x kg (-1) min(-1)] , and mediate obesity subgroup [(2. 75 +/-0. 24) mg x kg (-1) min(-1)] were significantly lower than that of NW-NGT group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The Rd [ (2. 97+/-0. 12) mg kg(-1) x min(-1) vs (4.55+/-0.43) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1)] and glucose oxidation [(1.47 +/-0. 19) mg x kg(-1) min(-1) vs (2.24 +/-0. 19) mg kg(-1) x min(-1) in VA group were significantly decreased than that in non-VA group (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). Body mass index, waist and hip ratio, waist circumference, and intra-abdominal fat area were negatively correlated with Rd, respectively (P < 0. 01). Multiple regression analysis showed that body mass index, intra-abdominal fat area and abdominal subcutaneous fat area were the main risk factors of insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin sensitivity decreased in OW/OB individuals with or without hyperglycemia. Insulin sensitivity is lower in subjects with visceral obesity. Total body fat and abdominal fat are the main risk factors of insulin sensitivity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Glucose Clamp Technique ; methods ; Glucose Intolerance ; etiology ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; physiopathology ; Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal ; metabolism